The Football Brainiacs

University of Oklahoma Edition

– Rahshaun Smith: If you thought OU had all the top recruits they could possibly be bringing in to one game, you thought wrong. Star 2016 DE/OLB Rahshaun Smith (Baltimore, MD) will be heading down to Norman for the Tennessee game. Smith has offers from just about every school in the country including Alabama, Florida State, Ohio State, etc. OU is a major player in Smith’s recruitment thanks, in large part, to Jerry Montgomery and to Smith’s connection with Charles Tapper.

This is a big time visitor!

– Obi Eboh: A player we’re going to be watching closely is 2016 cornerback, Obi Eboh out of Southlake Carroll. We talked to Obi earlier this week, and he let us know that he was in attendance last week for the La Tech game. Sounds like he had a great time in Norman this past weekend and told us that he’s hoping for an offer. It’s still early but Obi already has three offers, including one from Mississippi State. He’s a long cornerback, which is what OU is recruiting right now almost exclusively. In fact, we’ve been told that OU really isn’t looking for smaller CBs anymore.

– Arthur McGinnis: Finally, a top recruit that isn’t going to be visiting for the Tennessee game. 2015 OLB Arthur McGinnis (New Orleans, LA) let us know he has confirmed that he’ll be visiting Norman for the Bedlam game. He’ll be joining another excellent pass rusher in Takkarist McKinley who will also has plans to be at that game.

– Caleb Kelly: Star 2016 LB Caleb Kelly (Fresno, CA) said he still isn’t sure if he can make out to the Tennessee game, but definitely said he wants to. We try to stay in touch with Kelly quite a bit and always come away feeling like Kelly is OU’s to lose. Kelly has already visited OU once. He came out last spring for the Red/White game and had a great time. It’s a little early but don’t be surprised if OU wins big time 2016 commitments down the road from both Kelly and Rahshaun Smith.

– Dallis Todd: Wanted to pass along an interesting note about the big true freshman wide receiver from California. We’ve been told OU is really looking for a big outside WR threat this year. And it sounds like if Jeffery Mead isn’t able to take that next step in the next game or two and/or Jordan Smallwood continues to have problems catching the ball, Dallis Todd could be the next big WR to get his number called. Really amazing to see how many different guys OU is willing to play this year as opposed to the more conservative approach in years past.

BigJoeBrown

Drinking coffee and reading some Open Post in the morning, what a great way to start the Wednesday.

Mark slavin

Is Patrick Allen still visiting for the Tennessee game even though his committed to Georgia? I would think it would be a waste with all the other recruit’s coming unless they have a good chance to flip him.

Jordan Esco

Far as I know he’s still visiting

Mark slavin

What’s the chances he flips?

Jordan Esco

Not great, IMO.

Mark slavin

Then why waste the time and money to bring him here? Concentrate on the one’s we have a good chance with..

Jordan Esco

I couldn’t tell ya. Coaches must feel they still have a chance and that a visit is worth it. But who knows, maybe he doesn’t wind up making the trip.

Zack

Great updates. Hope these recruits figure out ou is this place to be. With a lot of them here for the Tennessee game I hope they say to each other “we could do something special here”. As far as dallis Todd I think he was the most polished of the receivers we got in 2014. I think they should give him a shot regardless but I think smallwood and mead will show up this week back home in Tulsa. Plus I might be able to catch a ball as bad as Tulsa was last year. Any word on Andrews? Haven’t seen his name much and I wanted to pass this photo along for a couple reasons. One is where is Andrews? And two, smallwood looks like he’s been working with perine.

Zack

Not sure if this posted twice.

Jordan Esco

Juaquin in the house!

OUWade

Thank you! I kept looking at the picture, and I knew I recognized that guy, but I couldn’t put my finger on it.

SoonerGray

I’d love to have these guys names called out? I see Sterling, KJ, Quick, DGB, and Smallwood, but who are the other guys?

OUWade

I’ll do my best, but hopefully someone comes along and corrects any mistakes,

I think where you said Bennett that might be Derrick woods and the guy in front of Todd 83, is Bennett.

STL Sooner

Makes my day any time I see the /~~………..BOOMER

bjwalker82

He was signing autopgraphs on Saturday. Heck of a guy.

Cincysooner

I don’t see Mark Andrews in that photo. I hope he is feeling a part of the receiving corp crew.

ratman

Heard they have moved him inside to tight end?? Rumor don’t know for sure.

SoonerPhins

Any word on when Jalin Barnett will pull the trigger? Said he would probably make his commitment before the start of the season, is that still the plan?

Tyler

If Keisean Lucier were to commit, where would OU play him. Line or OLB? Just curious since I’m going through his highlight videos right now!

Zack

If it were me I would play him at olb. He’s very long and athletic looking and about 225 if I remember correctly? I think he could play around 250 like Grissom and become a very talented olb. If he were to play on the dline he would have to get to about 280 to compete with the guys were bringing in.

Jordan Esco

OLB, but I’d suspect they move him around/put his hand in the dirt some like they do w/ Grissom.

Cush Creekmont

I think it’s very smart to bring Todd into the mix if the players “in front” of him are not performing to the required level. One cannot tell how a young man will perform without giving him the chance. Besides, IF DGB stays next year, any number of them could redshirt then. If he leaves, all will have game experience to improve for next year.

Stats

“OU really isn’t looking for smaller CBs anymore.” I see this as good news as OU is getting ahead of the curve in response to the bigger WR’s that are coming. However, wouldn’t we want the ability to roll out a smaller corner against the smaller/quicker receivers that I believe will always exist? So at least bring in a percentage of smaller corners? Or is 6’0″ now our small corner instead of 5’10”? thoughts???

Tyler

I like that OU is going after bigger corners. We still have small corners on the roster (Dakota Austin and Tito) that are young. But I agree with your assumption with maybe bringing in a smaller percentage of smaller corners.

Gary Robbins

I think it was Toots McGoats that mentioned a tall cb out of NEO in Miami, Ok. A 6-2/185 athlete out of Nashville, Tn. Top JUCO player with a impressive offer list. Suppose to have 4 years to play 3.Name was Justin Martin.

ToatsMcGoats

“Toots”…lol…

Sooner Ray

TootsMcGoots. Could be a good look for ya. 🙂

Gary Robbins

Allright my man-you owe me a tall boy!

Sooner Ray

I’m afraid to buy you one now, you may change my name!

ToatsMcGoats

I used to call my son that! He would get pretty ticked!

Gary Robbins

Sorry Toats- one too many during “happy hour”.

ToatsMcGoats

It’s all good!

Will Narramore

Im from Nashville, do you know the kid’s name? If its who Im thinking of, I competed against the kid in track my senior year when he was a freshman and we’re boys now

Gary Robbins

I think Toats-not Toots- said his name was Justin Martin.

Sooner Ray

As Gary said, Justin Martin from Antioch TN.

Kelsta

I would say no to bringing in a smaller corner just to have him. I don’t see Mike deciding he wants to put a back-up corner in, for a certain receiver, for certain portions of certain games. It’s just not that simple. In addition to scheme and comfort level issues, the opposing team can use scheme/motion to free up the short receiver (and leave our backup CB covering a larger receiver.

I think it’s good that we are putting an emphasis on the stature of our CB’s. That said, I have my doubts we would pass on an exceptional corner just because of his height.

Won

Honey badger don’t care… as long as they bleed Sooner Crimson! BOOMER!

Jason Vos

Where’s Mark Andrews?

Jordan Esco

Hopefully redshirting

Jason Vos

I mean he is not in the picture with the receivers posted by Zach

Jordan Esco

oooooh, my bad.

OilSooner

Andrews has moved to TE, and rumor is that he is not happy about it.

Zack

I would be mad too. It’s his first season.

SoonerJon

According to SoonerSports.com he is still listed as a wide receiver on the roster.

Jordan Esco

Where is that? I haven’t seen that anywhere.

ToatsMcGoats

Yeah, where’s that posted at? I know that was the reason he didn’t sign with aTm because they wanted him at TE. I can’t blame him. If it’s true, then OU flat out lied to him.

ToatsMcGoats

4th paragraph…this is the reason why I would be ticked if the move to TE for Andrews is truth:

This is 2nd time I’ve seen this said in last week. Saw on another board. Jordan can you guys look into this? Maybe same rumor/info just spreading between sites, but did find it curious as well when didn’t see him in WR photo couple days ago .

rphdenton

fwiw, a poster asked about that on oui and your idol said they had reported it at some earlier time though I, for one and a couple of others, don’t recall any mention……he says it’s true……..funny, I haven’t seen any mention from boulware at any time mentioning Andrews as a te……….I recall that when Andrews was being recruited, he mentioned coming here b/c he would play receiver and had no interest in te

Jason Vos

Caleb Kelly would be the perfect ILB in our system with his size. Kinda like Jordan Evans

JJsooner1

Dayuummm, Smith looks like a man-child out there! Stays home but pursues really well and gets off blocks…….a good get if we can reel him in.

soonermusic

Don’t know how well he plays, but a team with Obi Eboh and “Obo” Oko’ on it would have a nice ring to it.

Gary Robbins

Uh oh, see what you mean.

Boom

FYI – Evans Hit;

Tuesday night on his weekly coaches show, Stoops said Anderson had told him Evans did nothing wrong on the play.

“I spoke on Monday with Walt Anderson, it was actually after my press conference. He cut me off really and said, ‘Bob, your player didn’t do anything wrong.’ He understood that for whatever reason they misinterpreted the rule to some degree and because I didn’t know what to tell my player.

“The quarterback’s no longer a quarterback when he’s running with the football and he’s a runner. He wasn’t on his knee. He wasn’t falling backwards to slide. He wasn’t even had his knee on the ground yet and my guy’s already committed to tackling him when he ducks late. I was asking for, what am I going to tell my guy? He said, ‘You don’t have to tell him anything. He did what he was supposed to do.’ No one’s making an issue of it. Everybody’s on this learning curve of understanding the targeting rule and it’s the right rule. We’ve just got to keep working through it to make it correct.”

Evans will be back in the lineup Saturday when the Sooners play at Tulsa.

Krys Allen

Jeez, I thought I was crazy bc I was one of the few people who didn’t think it was targeting. When the QB takes off he is a runner, there is no targeting on a runner. Add to that the fact that Evans was aiming at his waist and he dropped into the hit!! I do feel like that hit on Keith Ford was targeting though, he was a receiver and the guy hit him high and made helmet to helmet contact, but they didn’t call it.

Sooner Ray

It was at least a whole lot closer to targeting than the Evans hit. A WHOLE lot.

Zack

I don’t think it was targeting it was a bad call but once they made the call it wasn’t going to be overturned for 2 reasons. He left his feet and lowered his head. My issue is that when the trajectory of the ball carrier changes and the tackler had already squared up to make the hit, then it should be a no call every time. And concussions scare the hell out of me.

Boom

He lead with his head for with his facemask which is OK. Also, he had one foot on the ground and didn’t use the crown of his helmet. Says it clear, the QB was a runner and didn’t slide or attempt so he’s fair game. Horrible call which is why he cut off Stoops and said it so fast.

Krys Allen

also the reason either of his feet left the ground was because the QB took out his legs as he passed over him. IMO, when they say he “launched” himself it means that he left his feet prior to contact.

Zack

I agree very bad call but refs are very limited when it comes to overturning calls on “bang bang” plays.

Sooner Ray

I know I’m coming in late this evening but I have watched that play several times and called BS the first time and still do. If you watch closely he aims at the chest and even goes for the wrap up which was over the QB’s head by the time they collided. How many times have you ever seen a guy go at someone’s head “intentionally” and try to two arm wrap up on it? He obviously expected to grab an arm full of upper body IMO.

Zack

I agree I think jordan was making a tackle but I mean how many times has ou been worked over by the refs? That’s why I didn’t expect it to be over turned. They saw a helmet hit a helmet and said welp he’s outta here. I think it’s a sissy rule that often gets flagged for plays where no penalty happened even in the NFL.

A slight topic change but I think it’s a good question. Do you think mark Cuban has a valid point when he warned the nfl of a possible demise?

I think there’s a lot of factors to consider but the main point he made was the price of a ticket vs “the Sunday ticket.” Over saturation is another possible factor. And changing the game to me is going to become a major factor if they don’t find a way to make the game safer without changing the product. I mean the NFL is possibly the biggest business in the world so it’s hard to say it will start to fall. But I mean it is almost becoming the new pro wrestling. If they find a way to pretend tackle watch out.

Sooner Ray

It’s not just the price of a ticket and the lower value of the product after it has been sissified, it’s also the parents not allowing their kids to experience football after listening to the media frenzy about injuries. My equipment back in the day wasn’t nearly as safe as what kids wear now and I only had my bell rung one good time and it was because I chose to go helmet to helmet full speed against a much bigger dude. Getting hit in the head was the least painful thing I ever felt on the field. I will admit that athletes are much bigger, stronger and faster now days but the equipment, coaching, and conditioning is also better now.

Jackson1006

This is where slow motion can be a hindrance. When you look at the footage in real time, no way a guy like Evans can make all the “safe” adjustments necessary. But when you watch it frame by frame, it looks more intentional, like he was headhunting and could have done something about it. In contrast, when a catch is contested there are rules like “making a football move” or similar that helps to reconcile the differences in perception between frame by frame vs real speed. Not sure what they will do for the targeting issue though.

Super K

Thanks for posting Boom…did you hear him say that? Or did you read it? Just wondering cause I think this would be good to post as a separate post on TOP

You may want to let the readers know the offical “rules” as this will help all of us, I think. It didn’t help the refs but maybe next time. K, I found this interesting too. If the Big 12 had a real leader and told Dodds to sit down and shut up, maybe ESPN would be covering us all the time.

Call me crazy or whatever but I have a good feeling that something good will happen either during the OU/Tennessee weekend or the following days. Not only in the win column but in committs. Jordan have you or anyone else heard anything about Lio Lafaela, Bo Wallace, or Darren Daniels lately? Is OU still in the running for them? OU’s season: “It’s all about the attitude.”

Gary Robbins

Gee willikers. Up to 20 visitors for the Tenn. game. The 2016 qb (Guarantana-New Jersey) and the above mentioned 2016 de/lb (Smith-Maryland) are very impressive. In fact all 41 OU offers for 2016 are very impressive. Seen where OU is one of Marvell Tell’s official visits. He is a 4-star db out of Encino, Ca. His other official visits are Oregon, N. Dame, A&M, and Vandy. Don’t know much about him but that’s a good offer list.

May also be a good sign finally at linebacker. Peat cancelled his visit to Oregon this weekend with a better game vs Michigan state. So his first official will be to Norman maybe we finally have a commit at linebacker when the weekend is over

Gary Robbins

Oh man that’s great. Big athlete at 6-4/235. Best news I’ve heard since the doctor told my first wife she wasn’t pregant just retaining a lot of water!

Look at the guns on Ripkowski!! His arms are almost twice the size of Trevor’s!!

leatherneck1061

The bias at ESPiN is just mind blowing. I had some free time at lunch, so I watched their “College Football Daily” followed by “CFB Live” for almost 2 hours:

They discussed the big matchup of Sparty vs Oregon and what it means for both leagues; ditto for Ohio St vs VT; they discussed the Gators (who didn’t even play) and how they still think they’re dark horses to win it all; they discussed USC and Stanford at length; they discussed Michigan Notre Dame at length; they discussed FSU and how Louisville could challenge them in the ACC; as usual, they discussed the SEC at length including A&M, Bama, and South Carolina as well as the B1G – OSU, Michigan, MSU. They went over and over different playoff scenarios involving the above mentioned teams. They didn’t breath one word – not one syllable – about the Big 12, let alone OU. Not ONE! It was really quite amazing! How hard must they work to shut out from their small minds an entire league including the #3 ranked team in the country? That must really take some serious effort! It was truly astonishing.

soonermusic

The only reason I find to watch is that I find it entertaining to see them grudgingly get on board each year, as the season progresses: and to see how long it takes before they do. Eventually they end up having to talk about OU and the big 12 when it becomes obvious that we are threatening their plans for world domination.

The only thing I’ve heard them talk about in regards to the BIG XII is the possibility of us being left out of the playoffs. They’re clearly trying to influence the committee on which teams and which conferences they should look at. And they’re clearly trying to snub OU out of the national picture.

leatherneck1061

Agreed. There definitely seems to be an agenda at work here.

lovethemsooners

Not going to sweat what those blowhards have to say(never watch them, why boost their ratings?). No chance there will be 4 unbeaten teams at the end of the season. If we take care of business each week as we should, we’ll be in, and they’ll have a hot plate of crow to grub on.

leatherneck1061

I don’t have to sweat what they say to be amazed at the way they made an entire league disappear. I almost couldn’t believe it. Usually they at least like to talk about Texas….maybe even Baylor or Okie light’s game against FSU. But these characters made out as though the entire Big 12 was not a factor in college football whatsoever. Again, not upset, just amused and somewhat impressed at the focus and message discipline this must have taken to pretend “flyover country” doesn’t exist.

Cory Reedy

If you watch enough college football talk on ESECPN, you may actually forget that the State of Oklahoma even exists. Be careful. Be very careful. : )

leatherneck1061

You may be onto something there. After that show I’m having trouble remembering if we even have a football team.

Incidentally, this article from College football news captures what I think a lot of us are thinking when it comes to ESPN and its oversized influence on the CFB playoff:

Particularly interesting is this segment from about the middle of the page:

“Now, imagine if the one network that aired the College Football Playoff and the national title game was also in deep, deep, deep, deep, deep with the best conference and the top teams in a sport that determines a tournament field based solely on judgment and perception……..

One thing became extremely apparent in the first week of the 2014 season – too many are going to fall back on a lazy and erroneous narrative that a four-team college football playoff will all of a sudden make things more fair, when the opposite is potentially true…..

It’s all about whatever the 13 playoff committee members think and believe, it’s even more of a beauty contest than ever before. That means perception and packaging are everything, and ESPN is selling the sizzle along with the steak.

Considering the SEC is the best college football conference in college football, watching SEC games is unavoidable, which means you have to watch ESPN’s coverage on the SEC Network, which means you’re going to be bludgeoned by SEC propaganda…….

Remember, with the College Football Playoff committee job simply to be to pick the four teams it thinks are best, it’s in no way out of the realm of possibility that the top four in college football this year are all in the SEC.”

boomersooner

If that type of crap happens, it will ruin the sport and you’ll have to win your championship in court

lovethemsooners

The Big 12 is the “odd man out” anymore. The new “Conference USA”. Thanks Texas! The only way to change the perception of the conference is to hang a couple titles on them. WVU and OsU playing tight games last week was nice, but winning those games would have brought a lot more attention to the conference. They need to remain competitive. Texas needs to get back to being “Texas”. All teams in the conference need to boost up their competition level in their OOC games(and win them!). Until we can accomplish some of those things, the Big 12 won’t be looked at in the same way as the other conferences.

leatherneck1061

To a point I agree. But the ACC? B1G? No one is going to convince me that either of those leagues are better than the Big 12. They’re being treated like power conferences. We’re being treated like Pop Warner. Just saying.

lovethemsooners

I agree….I’d even throw the PAC 12 in that group as well. Unfortunately sEcSPiN doesn’t, and they’re doing everything they can to promote those other two leagues ahead of ours. Texas being down and close losses aren’t going to be enough to change the perception of this league. The only real remedy we have as a conference(not just OU) is to win.

Boomer4life

Like Mays after the SB! LOL!

Cory Reedy

There is NO reason to watch ESPN unless OUr Sooners are playing on the network. It has been proven that they have a bias against us and the Big 12, but who cares. I like being the under dog…the team that feels slighted. That gives us more motivation to ruin the party. Screw em.

soonerthunder

I agree. Don’t watch them. You watch them, you are supporting them.

Kuzi

I was watching one of the college football shows on ESPN the other day, and both hosts picked three SEC teams for the college football playoffs. It’s absurd.

Front page of the ESPiN app for NCAA Football only shows one thing about OU. Evans’ ejection lol No score…nothing.

leatherneck1061

Yeah I saw that too. Guess OU destroying LaTech didn’t fit the narrative. Now Oregon/South Dakota and OSU/Navy on the other hand……

Perry Dickey

If the members of the committee do as they say their to do. Then the respect has to be earned of them. Oh, and btw, watching ESPiN isn’t on the list.

Kdubracing

It’s because Fox Sports has the Big 12 contract. ESPN is just like any other network and just like politicians. All they are interested in is power and money.

leatherneck1061

I figured the Fox angle had to play a big part. ESPiN really is going for world domination……

Kuzi

What about Cavil?

captfoss

Who? 😉

Dude You Didn’t

Knight has to improve on his accuracy to Smallwood and Mead. Those WRs had some tough catches to make from some poor passes at times. Smallwood had a ball tipped in ront of him and passes thrown behind him or in the dirt. Mead was pretty much the same.

That’s on Knight, period.

boomersooner

Can we give em a minute to work on it?

Sooner Ray

You are correct that Knight had some not so accurate throws and those guys were likely a little nervous under the lights but passes aren’t always going to be perfect and the great receivers reach out, back, or down and find a way to pull it in. Those boys have talent and with time, I think they will get it together.

OUknowitscomin

To some extent true, but timing/chemistry seemed to be a big factor too with those guys. It’s easy to always blame QB, but the WR routes can be off a bit too.

Stephen

“Just Win”, should be the motto for this team/program. Nobody gives them the time of day because of which conference they’re in. If we want respect, then I guess we’ll just have to go win.

Zack

This is what I’ve been saying. Win and they have to respect you. Anyone who thinks all of a sudden the big 12 = mountain west is over reacting. If ou goes 12-0 they will not be left out. And at 11-1 with a big 12 title they may still make it. However I will be interested to see how the committee is going to base their own rankings.

lovethemsooners

Key word in that 11-1 scenario is “may”. That also only applies to programs like OU and Texas which is backed up by what happened in 2011 with OsU. Some OU fans may not think the Big 12=MWC, but ESPN is doing their part to portray us in that manner. There’s no bigger promoter of the college game than them. If the Big 12 wants to shake that image, they have to win those WVU and OsU games, and not just lose close games. We still have opportunities to show out this season. KSU needs to take Auburn down and Texas needs to take care of business with UCLA. A TTU win against Arkansas is a “must win” for the conference, and in doubt after their performance against Arkansas State. Of course it goes without saying in regards to OU and Tennessee, but would help if Tennessee would go on and compete for the SEC East.

Zack

To me all those games are must wins if the big 12 has an 11-1 conference champ. An undefeated champ will make it. I don’t see many teams staying undefeated. And I don’t know if the sec will have more than one team with less than 2 losses.

Doobie74OU

Love that pic of Rahshaun Smith coming off the corner like a freight train above! He is almost horizontal bending around the corner!

rphdenton

re Andrews……..confirmed on oui that he is with te’s but plan to use as flex te, something like that……..apparently going along with it for now